A massive, massive well done to Kenton…!
Kenton Cool, Britain’s most successful Everest mountaineer, the second-most successful Western Mountaineer of all-time on Everest, has summited the three mountains of the Everest horseshoe – Everest (8,848m), Nuptse (7,861m) & Lhotse (8,516m) in one climb – completing the ultimate ‘Three Peaks’ challenge.
Yesterday, the Briton and his climbing companion and friend Sherpa Dorje Gylgen successfully summited the final peak Lhotse in the Western Cwm. The two men are the first to achieve the feat of summiting Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse in one trip. Everest’s ‘Three Peaks’ have never been attempted before and had been thought impossible by many due to the extreme skill and physical exertion required. The climb also marks Kenton Cool’s eleventh summit of Mount Everest.
Prior to his attempt, Cool said: “It has always been a dream of mine to attempt the three mountains that form the Western Cwm; Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. The Western Cwm is one of the most magical places I have ever been to and has always been special for me, ever since I saw a picture taken by Chris Bonnington when I was young. The idea of climbing the mountains that form this amazing valley hit me then and it is time to finally make summiting them a reality.”
Cool doesn’t consider a climb to be over until he’s safely reached Base Camp; Kenton and Sherpa Dorje arrived there today at around 11:00. Speaking via sat phone Cool, who said he was looking forward to some proper sleep, commented: “It’s been a pretty full-on week. I’ve never been this tired. I’m totally 100% spent but it’s an absolutely fantastic feeling to have achieved this – a dream come true.”
The first Everest Three Peaks comes nine days before the 60th anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s first successful ascent of Everest in May 1953.
For the full story of Kenton’s climb, I highly recommend checking out the interview by Everest chronicler and climber, Alan Arnette published in Outside magazine:
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